This is incorrect.Iskandar Taib wrote: on 14 July 2023, 14:12
Before 1986 you could play with BLACK rubber on both sides. Oh boy was that fun - get a sheet of Phantom 008 on one side and Tackiness Drive on the other. No one had any idea what you were serving with. Serve Pop Bang!
Before 1986 you could use any color same rubber on both sides .....not just only black.
Also in USA, after November 2000 you can use any color same rubber both sides.
USATT authorized the use blue / blue rubber by Marty Reisman in a 5 star regular 5 star event ( US Open Teams in Baltimor) not just hardbat only events. There seems to be some misunderstanding about this because USATT never OFFICIALLY banned the use of one color rackets after 2000 by any directive & therefore use of one color rackets is perfectly legal in any USATT sanctioned event.
There was some misleading disinformation being constantly circulated claiming that USATT only authorized the use of hardbat one color racket in regular events. This is totally incorrect because ITTF never said that it is OK to use one color hardbat rackets. Therefore this clearly says that you can use any type of rubbers (not just hardbat) of the same color both sides.